Apparatus and method for modifying a kernel module to run on multiple kernel versions

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system are provided. A kernel analyzer extracts from the kernel on the target system an error check measure and a kernel version identification. A module adaptation component inserts in the compiled kernel module an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system, and replaces a version identification in the compiled kernel module with the kernel version identification extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/373,120, filed Apr. 17, 2002 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING A KERNEL MODULE TO RUN ON MULTIPLE KERNEL VERSIONS”.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This application relates to computer operating systems. In particular, the application relates to adapting a kernel module for an operating system kernel of a target system.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] An operating system is one or more computer programs (for example, collections of computer instructions that guide a computer to perform one or more tasks) that make operating computer hardware usable. DOS, Windows, Mac, UNIX and Palm are some families of operating systems.

[0004] The primary function of operating systems is management of the computer's resources. The resources may include, for example, processor(s), storage (such as memories, hard disks, etc.), input/output devices (such as printers, monitor displays, etc.), and communication devices (such as modems, network interfaces, etc.). Resource management tasks include, for example, providing sharing of data and other resources by multiple users, handling handshaking and other network communication tasks, etc.

[0005] Operating system functions such as resource management are typically performed in a manner that is transparent to the average computer user. For example, although most users do not realize it, an operating system serves as an interface between computer resources on the one hand and, on the other hand, application programs (such as word processors, spreadsheets, web browsers, etc.) which a user may use. Operating systems also have other functions, such as providing a user interface, securing access and data against unauthorized users, recovering from system errors, etc.

[0006] An operating system kernel is the nucleus or core component of an operating system. Functions of a kernel may include process management, interprocess communication, interrupt processing, support for storage allocation/deallocation, support for input/output activities, system security measures, etc. Each of these functions includes many tasks. For example, security tasks may include access control, logging and monitoring, storage and file system management, and network and modem communications monitoring, etc.

[0007] Linux is a member of the family of UNIX operating systems, and may be run on a variety of computer platforms, including personal computers with an x86 processor. Linux is a free, open-ended implementation of UNIX. Specifically, source code for a Linux kernel is widely available to the public, and is continuously being improved and otherwise modified. As improvements and/or other alterations to the Linux kernel are made and generally adopted by the public, new Linux versions are released. A publicly-released Linux kernel version is identifiable by a corresponding assigned kernel version identification.

[0008] A Linux kernel, similar to some other operating system kernels, typically consists of a plurality of kernel modules. A kernel module is a program for performing one or more corresponding kernel tasks. A kernel version may be a combination of kernel modules selected according to the particular system on which the kernel version is to be installed. Two kernel versions may be different in that (a) one version has additional modules that are not in the other version and/or (b) two modules of the respective versions perform the same task(s) but in different (but perhaps equally satisfactory) ways.

[0009] When a new kernel module is added to (or replaces an existing module in) an operating system kernel, the kernel with the new module may need to be recompiled. Compilation of a kernel is a time-consuming task. For operating systems such as Linux in which multiple kernel versions are actively-used, a new (for example, firewall) kernel module may undergo multiple kernel compilations, corresponding to the plural (custom or publicly released) kernel versions to which the new module may be added.

[0010] Linux provides for dynamic linking of loadable kernel modules. Even when a kernel uses dynamically linkable kernel modules, each dynamically linkable kernel module is compiled into a loadable module. Although a kernel into which a new dynamically linkable kernel module may be loaded may not need to be recompiled, the new dynamically linkable kernel module typically is compiled multiple (under some circumstances, hundreds of) times, each compilation providing a corresponding loadable module to which a respective (released or custom) kernel version may dynamically link. The multiple compilations are time consuming and cause much unnecessary storage consumption.

SUMMARY

[0011] This application provides a kernel module modification apparatus for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a kernel analyzer and a module adaptation component. The kernel analyzer extracts from the kernel on the target system an error check measure and a kernel version identification. The module adaptation component inserts in the compiled kernel module an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system, and replaces a version identification in the compiled kernel module with the kernel version identification extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system.

[0012] The application also provides methods for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system. The method, according to one embodiment, includes extracting from the kernel on the target system an error check measure and a kernel version identification, inserting in the compiled kernel module an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted from the kernel on the target system, and replacing a version identification in the compiled kernel module with the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system. The compiled kernel module into which the error check parameter is inserted may be a loadable Linux kernel module and/or binary. The modified, compiled kernel module having inserted therein the error check parameter and bearing the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system is loadable into the kernel on the target system.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the error check measure may include one or more checksums extracted from the kernel on the target system. The method may further include locating a symbol table in the compiled kernel module and, for each symbol name in the symbol table, performing an analysis of the symbol name. The symbol name analysis may include comparing the symbol name to symbols in the kernel on the target system. If the symbol name is matched to a symbol in the kernel on the target system, a checksum associated with the matched symbol may be extracted and appended to the symbol name in the symbol table of the compiled kernel module. The method may also include adjusting one or more offsets of the symbol table after the symbol names are analyzed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The features of the present application can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a kernel module modification apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present application;

[0016]FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method, according to one embodiment of the present application, for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system;

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method for adapting for a Linux kernel on a target system a compiled Linux kernel module corresponding to another Linux kernel version, according to one embodiment of the present application; and

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for analyzing symbol names, according to one embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] This application provides tools (in the form of methods and apparatuses) for modifying a kernel module to run on multiple kernel versions. The tools may be embodied in a software utility (for example, one or more computer programs) stored on a computer readable medium and/or transmitted via a computer network or other transmission medium. The computer or computer system on which the software utility is executed may be the target system.

[0020] A kernel module modification apparatus 10, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, adapts for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system. The apparatus 10 includes a kernel analyzer 11 and a module adaptation component 12. The kernel analyzer and the module adaptation component may be modules or code sections in a software utility.

[0021] A method for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system, according to one embodiment, is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The kernel analyzer component 11 extracts from the target system kernel 5 an error check measure 5 a and a kernel version identification 5 b (step S21). The module adaptation component 12 inserts in the compiled kernel module 20 an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system (step S22), and replaces a version identification in the compiled kernel module 20 with the kernel version identification extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system (step S23).

[0022] The compiled kernel module into which the error check parameter is inserted may be a loadable Linux kernel module and/or binary. The modified, compiled kernel module having inserted therein the error check parameter and bearing the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system is loadable into the kernel on the target system.

[0023] The version identification extracted from the target system kernel may be a version number or another version identification (such as one or more symbols).

[0024] The error check measure extracted from the target system kernel may be one or more checksums. When the error check measure is a checksum, the error check parameter that is inserted in the compiled kernel module may be identical or complementary to the error check measure, or otherwise derived from it. Checksum methodologies are well known in the art. For the sake of clarity, this disclosure does not provide a detailed discussion of such methodologies. In any event, the modified kernel module, with the error check parameter obtained based on the error check measure extracted from the target system kernel, should meet the error check criteria of the kernel.

[0025] An exemplary embodiment for a Linux kernel is explained below. It should be understood, however, that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be applied to other types of operating system kernels.

[0026] The kernel module modification apparatus may be a software utility for modifying a compiled Linux Kernel module of a certain kernel version and producing a modified kernel module adapted for loading into a different kernel version on a target system. The modifications include changes to a symbol table in a symbol table header of the kernel module and to a version identification in the module information section of the kernel module.

[0027] Linux kernel modules may be compiled into a format called Executable and Linkable Format (ELF). The ELF format has many sections and headers that describe proper execution and linkage information for the module/executable. The sections include the symbol table and module information sections.

[0028] A symbol table in a compiled kernel module is a list of identifiers (i.e. symbols, for example, names, labels, etc.) used in the kernel module, the locations of the identifiers in the module, and identifier attributes. In the symbol table of a Linux kernel module, a checksum is appended onto the end of each symbol name. The checksum value may be used to verify that the kernel module uses the same symbol prototypes, processor opcodes, etc., when the module is being inserted into a target kernel. If these values are different, the kernel determines that there are unresolved symbols and aborts the process of loading the kernel module. To work around this problem, checksums may be removed from the symbols in the kernel module and replaced with checksums that are stored in the target kernel. The checksum replacement allows the module to be loaded without any unresolved symbol errors.

[0029] A method for, adapting for a Linux kernel on a target system a compiled Linux kernel module corresponding to another Linux kernel version is described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0030] The section header of the ELF format kernel module is read and parsed by the utility (step S31). The utility finds, based on the section header information, an offset of the symbol table in the kernel module and the offset is used to locate the symbol table in the kernel module (step S32). The symbol table is then read and parsed by the utility (step S33). An offset to where symbol names are stored in the module, which is called a “string table”, is determined from the symbol table information (step S34) The symbol names are then read and analyzed one at a time from the string table (step S35).

[0031] The analysis of symbol names in the string table may be performed in the following way (FIG. 4). A symbol name in the string table is selected (step S351). The selected symbol name is checked to determine whether a checksum is attached (step S352). If no checksum is found (step S352), the symbol name is skipped and the next symbol name is selected. If the symbol name includes an attached checksum (step S352), then the checksum is stripped off (step S353) and the remaining name is then compared to symbols that are in the kernel on the target system (step S354). If a match is found (step S354), a checksum appended to the matched symbol in the target system kernel is extracted and appended to the selected symbol name in the string table of the kernel module (step S355). If a match is not found (step S354), an error message is generated, indicating that there is an unresolved symbol (step S356), and the symbol name analysis procedure does not proceed. Otherwise, the process continues until all of the symbol names have been checked and modified (step S357). If a modification to the string table has taken place (step S358), the size of the string table may have changed. Therefore, the offsets of the ELF format header may need to be adjusted to reflect the change in string table size (step S359).

[0032] The following pseudo-code describes this process: WHILE MORE SYMBOLS IF SYMBOL CONTAINS CHECKSUM STRIP CHECKSUM FROM SYMBOL SEARCH RUNNING KERNEL FOR STRIPPED SYMBOL IF MATCH FOUND APPEND CHECKSUM FOUND ONTO SYMBOL NAME STORE SYMBOL NAME WITH NEW CHECKSUM IN NEW MODULE RECORD SIZE CHANGE OF SYMBOL ELSE DISPLAY ERROR AND EXIT END IF END IF END WHILE MODIFY ELF FORMAT HEADER OFFSETS TO REFLECT STRING TABLE SIZE CHANGE

[0033] Next, the module information section is modified. The module information section holds information identifying the kernel version for which the kernel module was compiled. Embedded in the module information is a version identification, which is replaced by the kernel version identification of the kernel on the target system. Modification of the version identification allows the kernel module to be loaded into the kernel on the target system without kernel version mismatch error messages.

[0034] The ELF format parsing (step S31), described above, also yields an offset to the module information section of the module (step S32). The module information section is read and parsed (step S36) to find an offset to a string table (different from the symbol names string table) associated with the module information section (step S37). The module information string table is read and parsed (step S38). The string table is then searched for the version identification. For example, in a compiled Linux kernel module, the version identification follows the string “kernel_version=” (step S39). When this string is found, the version identification of the kernel version for which the Linux kernel module was compiled follows the “=” sign. Next, the version identification is replaced with the kernel version identification of the target system which may be obtained, for example, from an “uname” system. call on the target system (step S40). The version identification modification may change the string table size (step S41). Therefore, the string table size may need to be recalculated and the ELF header offsets modified to reflect a change in string table size (step S42).

[0035] The modified kernel version string is written out as the new kernel module (step S43). The modified kernel module is loadable into the kernel on the target system.

[0036] The following source code is for an exemplary software utility.

[0037] The above specific embodiments are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. Elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

[0038] For example, although version identification modification follows symbol table modification in the embodiment described above, the module information modification may precede the error check adjustment. As another example, although the software utility may run on the target system, the kernel module modification apparatus may be adapted to run on a system (having at least a processor and a program storage device) other than the target system, if the kernel version identification of the target system is known and the error check measure of the kernel on the target system also is available.

[0039] Additional variations may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from reading U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/373,120, filed Apr. 17, 2002, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kernel module modification apparatus for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system, comprising: a kernel analyzer adapted to extract from the kernel on the target system an error check measure and a kernel version identification; and a module adaptation component adapted to insert in the compiled kernel module an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system, and to replace a-version identification in the compiled kernel module with the kernel version identification extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compiled kernel module into which the error check parameter is inserted is binary.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modified, compiled kernel module, which has inserted therein the error check parameter and bears the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system, is loadable into the kernel on the target system.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the error check measure includes one or more checksums extracted by the kernel analyzer from the kernel on the target system.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the kernel analyzer locates a symbol table in the compiled kernel module and, for each symbol name in the symbol table, performs an analysis of the symbol name.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the symbol name analysis performed by the kernel analyzer includes comparing the symbol name to symbols in the kernel on the target system.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein if the symbol name is matched to a symbol in the kernel on the target system, the kernel analyzer extracts a checksum associated with the matched symbol and the module adaptation component appends the extracted checksum to the symbol name in the symbol table of the compiled kernel module.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the module adaptation component adjusts one or more offsets of the symbol table, after the symbol names are analyzed.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compiled kernel module is a loadable Linux kernel module.
 10. A method for adapting for a kernel on a target system a compiled kernel module corresponding to another kernel version which is different from the kernel on the target system, comprising: extracting from the kernel on the target system an error check measure and a kernel version identification; inserting in the compiled kernel module an error check parameter corresponding to the error check measure extracted from the kernel on the target system; and replacing a version identification in the compiled kernel module with the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the compiled kernel module into which the error check parameter is inserted is binary.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the modified, compiled kernel module having inserted therein the error check parameter and bearing the kernel version identification extracted from the kernel on the target system is loadable into the kernel on the target system.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the extracted error check measure includes one or more checksums extracted from the kernel on the target system.
 14. The method of claim 10 further comprising locating a symbol table in the compiled kernel module and, for each symbol name in the symbol table, performing an analysis of the symbol name.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the symbol name analysis includes comparing the symbol name to symbols in the kernel on the target system.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the symbol name is matched to a symbol in the kernel on the target system, a checksum associated with the matched symbol is extracted and then appended to the symbol name in the symbol table of the compiled kernel module.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein offsets of the symbol table are adjusted after the symbol names are analyzed.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein the compiled kernel module is a loadable Linux kernel module.
 19. A system, comprising: a processor; and a program storage device readable by the system, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method of claim
 10. 20. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the method of claim
 10. 21. A computer data signal embodied in a transmission medium which embodies instructions executable by a computer to perform the method of claim
 10. 